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Friday, June 3, 2011

to stimulate those who are upward-minded

I have said we are wrestling with tremendous problems, more important to the masses of men than art or poetry; the problems of human life; of human happiness. But it is a sordid combat, with sordid forces, in a sordid arena. It is as intensely practical as trying to reach a life-raft after shipwreck. We are searching for Truth. We have killed that credulity which peopled the thickets with fauns and made of the murmurous rivulets the voices of nymphs. We have even killed Hell and Heaven as particular retreats for particular people, but a knowledge of truth need not and cannot kill the imagination. Imagination is not synonymous with credulity or superstition. It is the vital spark of the human mind and it remains for us to speculate upon what wonderful forms it will flame into when again it leaps upward. If I could leave a phrase to stimulate those who are upward-minded, I would say not only is there "no profit where is no pleasure ta'en. In brief, sir study what you most affect." But, also, there is no pleasure where there is no profit taken. In brief, sir, read what is worth studying. Only that is worth reading.

In considering the question of mental cultivation, I often think of De Quincey's simile of the pearl-necklace which has been broken and the wearer sits in a boat in calmest sea, unconscious of the fact. One by one, the precious jewels slip off and hasten back to the eternal depths. The necklace is Life and the pearls are the hours which make it.

I'm surprised that was written 100 years ago as this passage seems particularly relevant today. It is almost sad that all the best writing calling for new forms of thought and being are so timeless and seem always to apply from century to century. Still, I am so thankful that little illuminating torch is handed down from generation to generation till surely one day, it will bring the light of a new dawn to humankind.

this is a stunning post-so appropriate to these malevolant times. I call them malevolant because I don't believe in what we are told - I only know what feels right- and it doesn't. The powers that be are only interested in what they can get-the ones who still care are few and far between. But we who truly care about our planet keep trying. Thank you for this post.

Kathe~ So interesting you would describe the times as malevolent, as it is a word that has been in my mind a lot lately...just swimming around without being affixed to anything in particular. Now it has landed on this concept of yours, which feels just right.

now the words are tumbling

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The older woman's love is not love of herself, nor of herself mirrored in a lover's eyes, nor is it corrupted by need. It is a feeling of tenderness so still and deep and warm that it gilds every grass blade and blesses every fly. It includes the ones who have a claim on it and a great deal else besides. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.- Germaine Greer